Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Binibining Pilipinas 2008 was held at the Araneta Coliseum last Saturday. I would like to congratulate all the winners and to those who were not lucky to win, there's always a second time. Although I was not able to watch the coronation night, I was able to cope up with the videos online and news.

Candidate no. 2 Patricia Fernandez won the Bb. Pilipinas-International title, candidate no. 7 Jennifer Barrientos won as Bb. Pilipinas- Universe and lastly candidate no.15 Janina San Miguel got the crown of Bb. Pilipinas-World. Candidate no.8 Danielle Kirsten Muriel Castaño won as the 1st runner-up and candidate no.18 Elizabeth Jacqueline Nacuspag took the 2nd runner up sash.

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Live Show Review

Last Friday, Kuya Thonz and I went to UP Film Institute: cineAdarna to watch the movie Live Show. It is part of the Director's Cut Film Festival: mga eksenang dapat mong nakita...pero... It is a festival of critically-acclaimed and controversial films by the country's finest directors. A centennial project of UP College of Mass Communication.
Direk Jose Javier Reyes was there along with lead actress Ana Capri. Also, Nicanor Tiongson was there, ex-MTRCB chief.
Live Show is considered "most-controversial" in Philippine filmmaking history. This a story of poor Filipinos forced to perform sexual acts in front of paying customers.

Film background

Actually, the original title for the film is Toro. It was shown abroad and joined to different film festivals with the Toro as the title and it was replaced with Live Show when it was about to be shown here in our country. According to Armida Sigeon-Reyna, Toro must only be used to refer to male cow. In the film, the term toro refers to the act of live sexual performance. The film was directed by the award-winning director, Jose Javier Reyes. Ana Capri and Claudia Coronel are the main casts of the film. The film was produced under the Regal Film Productions.

Director's Corner

Director Jose Javier Reyes said that it was one of the satisfying movies he ever created. According to him, he went to the highest heaven and to the deepest hell just for this film. The success of the film in the different film festivals around the globe was the heaven and the controversies was the hell. The film was one of the three Filipino entries in the 50th Berlinale Film Festival and from there different invitations was started. He is very proud as a Filipino because of this film. He was overwhelmed to the acceptance given by the audience. It was hell to him because it became a national issue. During the time of the film, it became a front page of every newspaper and an issue for more than a month. He received many demoralizing acts and judgements for the whole time. But according to him, it made him a stronger person for passing all those controversies.
Moreover, the film was made and dedicated to the Filipino audience but it's them who cannot appreciate it.

Controversies

Aside from the nudity scenes, the real agenda here is a political issue. The scenes are not pornographic and only the sick people will be aroused from the show, that's according to Direk Reyes and Nic Tiongson.
The MTRCB gave the movie a R-18 rating. It was the time of Erap controversies when it was to be shown in the public so they move the showing date. They left the movie unshown until the political issues become stable when GMA succeeded the position of presidency. Also, MTRCB needs also to be re-organized under the new government. Nicholas Tiongson, Dean of UP Mass Communication that time, was appointed to be the new chief. The board review for the film was maintained a R-18 so at last it was shown in the public.
After a couple of days, Nicholas Tiongson was received a call from the Malacanang to recall the movie. He was also ordered by the late Cardinal Sin to do the same thing because according to the movie review board of the CBCP it is pornographic. It was a real pressure for the Malacanang and the church to take an action because they are bombarded with protests from different conservative groups to stop the showing of the film.
Finally, the chief of MTRCB had a fast talk with PGMA. He was personally ordered to recall the movie. He fully defended the film as a R-18 film and there's nothing wrong with it. One more thing, the board has no power to recall film that has been released already. From that, the President empowers the duty of the MTRCB. Also, from his talk with Cardinal Sin, his eminence adviced him five times to resign of he cannot recall the film. It was really hard for Nicholas Tiongson since the movie has a moral significance.
Behind this agenda, according to Nicholas he was chosen to become the MTRCB because of the advice of the Cardinal due to the fact that he was an ex-seminarian. And when an film director adviced the president that recalling the film is like killing the film industry, no comments were received from Malacanancg since then.
Eventually, the movie was recalled and Nicholas Tiongson resigned from his office. According to him, he cannot work in position where his boss cannot work with him unlike during his CCP years that he can stand any controversies because they have the same principles with his boss.
Reyes and Tiongson claim that they are the first victims of aggression of the Arroyo regime. According to Tiongson, Arroyo doesn't have her principle. She is the typical Filipino politician who stay away from pressures just to remain from here position.

My Review

It was true that only sick people will get aroused from the film. There are frontal nudities and sexual scenes from the film which you cannot even take to look at it anymore.
It was a story of a family narrated by the eldest son. Their mother is a whore and she makes a living from that to feed her three children. Eventually, the son became a bayaran and work in a club which offers a torohan-live sex. The mother also sell her daughter to become a bayaran pero nilayasan din siya after. The mother got a cancer in the ovary and the youngest son stay with their mother to take good care of her. But eventually the mother died in the end.
Ana Capri was also their as a part of the club. She work there and when she got pregnant, she gave away her child because she cannot bear him. Her world revolves around the movie in taking a chance to take his child back, from her dream as being friends only, when she was stop seeing her son. She tried to kill herself many times and she was always saved by Hilda Coronel, her friend.
Hilda was also part of the club. She does it to make a living for her family in the province and for herself also. Aside from doing the torohan, she is also a querida of a rich chinese businessman. Her ultimate dream was to go to Japan and live a good life. She was able to raised money from the chinese, but eventually her gay friend who is responsible for her application to Japan was robbed out.
They are more characters in the film who portrays the poverty . There is this gang, who recruits the youth to become part of the team nad they are persistent to get the brothers to join. Some of them get in due to easy money, and one of the died. There is also this nurse, who happened to be the love interest of the narrator, went abroad and sentenced to death because of stealing. There is also this partner who quit from torohan and eventually got a child. The guy became a hardworking construction worker but work became limited for him. The girl do some paglalako but their earnings cannot suffice the needs of their child. Eventually, they return from being bayaran and went back to torohan. There is also a scene there, an old woman exploiting a child to foreigners just to make money. Also, a man who commercializes a lamay ng patay for them gamble.
If I gave a rating for the film, it would be 9 out of 10. The cinematography is very good. The theme has a great social relevance. Story wise and script, it is very natural that it's like watching a real scene. The actors and actresses are very good, but they need to improve in their crying scenes because some are pilit. The film is not pornographic, it's a real art. An ART of a real FILM ARTIST.

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A Message...

This a chain mail circulating in the web right now and luckily a friend of mine sent it to me. I found this mail very interesting and some kinda importance so I'm posting it to my blog. Hope we learn something from it. I am not sure if this is really from Geroge Carlin.
For the information of everybody, George Carlin is a famous comedian in the 70's. He was born on May 12 1937. He is an award winning comedian, actor and author. Carlin is especially noted for his political and black humor.
He was married to Brenda Hosbrook and they had a daughter, Kelly.
In 2001, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 15th annual American Comedy Awards. If you are wondered how does he look like, here is his picture.


And here goes the mail the I've got...



What a difference a sad event in someone's life makes. GEORGE CARLIN (His wife recently died...)

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin: The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

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Fire Rabbit: Astrology

What is Astrology?

Astrology (ə strólləjee) n.- study of planets and human behaviors: the study of the positions of the Moon, Sun and other planets in the belief that their motions affe ct the human behaviors (Encarta.msn.com).

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, astrology is the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions and aspects.

Astrology comes from the Greek work astr + logia refering to the study of the stars. Divination by interpreting the stars, now known as astrology; one of the ancient systems of prophecy. It was developed in Babylon and later carried to Greece, ascribing heavenly thrones to gods as represented by the sun, moon, and planets.


From their movements, wise men divined the purposes of such deities, taking into account the phases of the moon, eclipses, the proximity of planets to the brighter fixed stars, and other phenomena, including the positions of constellations other than those forming the signs of the zodiac.

Some examples include, the new moon rising in a cloudy sky presaged victory in a coming battle, while, if it failed to rise as an anticipated time, it became an omen of defeat.

When astrology advanced as a science, the casting of horoscopes and other exact calculations replaced the old traditions and astromancy became less significant. Its systems are largely obsolete, but its lore has survived as modern superstitions, such as expecting bad luck if you look at the moon over your left shoulder, or making a quick wish when you see a shooting star.

It’s interesting to note that astromancy became astrology and astrology became the science we now call astronomy.

The investigation of the (alleged) influence upon the weather, climate, etc. of planetary and stellar phenomena, such as sun-spots, phases of the moon, comets, meteors, and planetary conjunctions. This was a branch of an older natural astrology; and the term is often applied to a pretended prognostication of the weather, which is no better than modern “astrology”.

Fire Rabbit


Eastern Gem Stone: Pearl

Easter Ruling Planet: Jupiter


Wester Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius


Yin or Yang: Yin (Dark/Feminine)

Combined Zodiac (East meets West):

The Sagittarian Rabbit
These are probably the most open-minded of the Rabbits finding comfort in just relaxing at home. They don't get caught up in the sensitive characteristics of the normal Rabbit and would rather be a little less emotional and a lot more comfortable.

Month of the Rabbit: March

Lucky Colors: Blue, Grey, White

Zodiac Position: Fourth

Direction: East (E)

Hours: 5:00am - 7:00am

Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 19 and 35.

Horoscopes provided courtesy of Suzanne White and Master Rao.

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Chinese Horoscope

I was checking my App invitation in my Friendster account and I found this interesting Chinese Zodiac Horoscope application courtesy of Suzanne White and Master Rao.

My Signs:



Ancient Symbol: The Fourth



Element Symbol: Fire

Animal Symbol: The Rabbit

Here is the detailed description of my horoscope sign.



Brief Description
Rabbits are kind, affectionate but often over cautious and can be superficial at times.

General Description of All Rabbits
Rabbits, like their animal counterparts, are quite calm people who do not exhibit aggressive behavior and will avoid confrontation at all costs. When angry about something, a Rabbit will approach it calmly and considerately, hardly ever raising his voice or becoming visibly annoyed. Because of their serenity, Rabbits seem to miss things, whether they are confrontational in nature or not. However, the Rabbit is quite keen and pays close attention to the situations developing around him. He is intelligent and quick and can talk himself in or out of most situations with no problem.

The Chinese Rabbit is one of the most stylish creatures of the Chinese Animal Signs and finds interest in different cultures. He is classy and sophisticated, and can be found adorning one of the latest fashion magazine cover looks. Rabbits also like artistic ventures, such as painting and music and are generally quite present in these worlds. They love top express themselves, which is evident when joining them at home for a function or a cup of coffee.

Positive Traits
sensitive, tactful, home loving, refined, prudent, discreet, long-living, ambitious, cultured, well-mannered, artistic, considerate, scholarly, suave, graciously hospitable, modest and unimpeachably virtuous

Negative Traits
snobbish, secretive, pedantic, complicated, haughtily indifferent, self-indulgent, hypochondriacally, punctilious, judgmental, self-righteous, deceptive, self-centered and terminally condescending

Detailed Description of The Fire Rabbit
Fire adds an unspoken magnetism and mystery to the Rabbit. These creatures have a burning desire to get out there and live life to its fullest. They are active and adventurous and love anything that sparks their creativity or curiosity. They can throw tantrums here and there, if provoked, but most of the time they work very hard to avoid conflict or unpleasant confrontations. Fire Rabbits are charming and tend to push their emotions into the backs of their minds, but will speak up if necessary.

Assessment:

Fire + rabbit = ME

AMAZING!

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